ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: scottprice on May 19, 2009, 07:40:31 AM
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Hey guys, noobie here so if this would be best to throw into the new section please do so. I've been trolling around here for months now and I'm "this" close to getting a Tracker. I have a pretty clear vision of what I'm in for, except for one minor/major depending on how you look at it problem.
I may be moving to either the Phoenix, AZ area or the Denver, CO area and this could cause an issue with the A/C and convertible top thing. Sounds stupid yes, but it's a legitamite concern with the soft tops since I'd be dealing with either 110 degree heat or many feet of snow. Hard Tops would probably be the best option in these conditions, but I'm unwilling to spend $900 or about the same price I'd pay for the Tracker. This is going to be an every day commuter so it needs to have more practicality than your average trail rig. Anyone have other options out there that I can do (insulation DIY tops anything), anyone that has experience with this especially those that live in these conditions, would be greatly appreciated. I'd love to do as much of this as I can myself, I'd be willing to build insulate or do whatever it took, as long as it's within a reasonable budget.
Also, has anyone tried anything like Dynaspray to coat their interiors or any other type of insulator and had good results? I was thinking about Herculiner, but I don't think it has any insulating properties. I could probably use both, but if I'm tearing up the carpet to Dynaspray and Herculine the floor, it probably defeats the whole purpose since the flooring probably insulates better, i'd think
Thanks In Advance!
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Just found this, doesn't look like Suva has been on recently, anyone know how to build one of these? I don't weld or I'd do it myself.
http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=23685.msg194587#msg194587
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What kind of job are you looking at? Reason I ask is how are you going to be dressed. I grew up in phoenix, lots of my friends got away with topless jeeps in the summer no AC. But if you have to wear a suit, it would suck. But if you can wear shorts and a polo shirt or something you could get away with the top down. Just get some seat covers to protect from the sun. If you got to wear a suit everyday, in phoenix (especially in traffic) you will sweat your b**** off without a good AC. I would say it would be worth it to get a hard top and recharge the AC you'll need it. As far as living in CO. I also lived/ grew up in Woodland Park (18miles west of CO Springs) I would not worry about it at all. Summer are mild enough, winter you can always wear more clothes and put in a block heater. Hope that helps.
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Yeah I figured my arch nemesis would be the 110 degree weather. I'm already looking into insulating the car. I'd likely have to be anywhere from business casual to shirt and tie most of the time as I'm in advertising. Now to just find an affordable way to get a hard top. I'm going to have my mechanic recharge that AC (probably inspires me a bit more to get the white one with the white top as well lol)
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;) Look for a 2door Tintop ( factory hardtop ) They're cooler in the hot summer with the ac on, and warmer in the winter with the heat on. Plus if you insulate them further, they're quieter than a ragtop too.
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only hard top versions I've been able to find here locally were 4 doors, unfortunately they all got sold before I had a chance to get one, plus they were asking way too much. I've seen like 2 or 3 2 door hard top trackers around here, all privately owned and not for sale, plus they were really beat up. Anyone anyone near Lancaster, PA know of one? ; )
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Any recommendations on insulation materials?
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In the cold, it's hard to keep them warm. The bare metal is the reason. If you can find a parts rig with full plastic interior you could swap all that in to help keep it warm. The heater in the car will then heat the air between the plastic and the metal and reduce the heat loss. Stuff the quarters with pink insulation, put down an extra layer of jute mat on the floor... wear a jacket
;) Dave
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how about spray foam instead of pink insulation?
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how about spray foam instead of pink insulation?
Mine has a convertible hardtop on it, but it had all sorts of gaps & air leaks in it last winter. The biggest prob I had though is air rushing through the door handle gap, & I think I'm gonna try & fix that with a light switch foam insert, like you put in the house, but cut to fit under the cover. If you put a 195* thermostat in it, it'll heat up real well anyhow, no real need for more insulation imho.
Fuzz
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how about spray foam instead of pink insulation?
These both sounds like bad ideas. They both hold moisture.. which causes rust....
Sound dampening would be a better solution, but more expensive.
Bryce
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I was looking into a bunch of sound dampening materials, found some different solutions, I liked the idea of one I found that applied like Herculiner.... don't know how effective it'd be but my thought would be that if it insulates, kills sound a bit, and adds a bit of structural integrity it sounds like a good idea, as well as the fact that it'd be easily applied to areas that may be more difficult with a Dynamat sheet
http://www.dynamat.com/products_car_audio_dynaspray.html
Any thoughts?
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how about spray foam instead of pink insulation?
These both sounds like bad ideas. They both hold moisture.. which causes rust....
Sound dampening would be a better solution, but more expensive.
Bryce
really? i use spray foam, or expanding foam (aka "Great Stuff") all the time, and once it is sprayed on, it is non porous and non absorbant. if you sand it, cut it, etc, you THEN open up the pores of the material, and you are correct, it will absorb water. second, other materials that are in the vehicle absorb water as well such as your carpet. but in this case, i would reccommend keeping it because it will def. keep it a bit warmer in there.
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I love my 2dr tintop :)
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Don't gloat lol
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Don't gloat lol
that was fast. I DO wish i had a convertible for the summer though...Fresno, CA gets darn hot sometimes. I can always remove my back windows w/ 3 screws, and roll down the front windows. I am still considering buying a spare back hatch to cut down, and spare doors to cut down to half doors. You can always do that too. Safarikick made an EXCELLENT LOOKING pair of half doors, that's an option
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I got my sound and heat/cool insulation from JC Whitney, cheap and effective. I completely gutted the interioir, removed smelly carpets etc, then Herculined the complete tub, including the door interiors. Then, with all the panels off throughout the truck, i used the sound insulation, followed by the jute mat type insulation everywhere but the floors. The floors got some removable mat insulation, covered with thick rubber mats, also removable, cut from my old pickup factory bed mat. Very thick and sturdy, washable, and really helps quiet it down inside. NO problems with wind leakage or cooling or heating. But it's a tintop.
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Hey Bent! I love your tracker, I saw those photos of yours on flicker. I was looking for rubber matting material, did you just use regular heavy duty replacement floor mats or did you mat the entire floor with one big roll of the material? What did you use for that?
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The floor mats are seperate pieces cut from a pick up bed floor liner, factory, from my old Tundra. It was a dealer item they threw in when I bought my Truck. Stuff is like 1/2 in thick rubber, very heavy duty. I just cut it to shape and fit individual pieces so I could remove them for cleaning etc.
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very cool idea, I need to find myself something like that